ts were cleared away, her head paid off,
and we drove on stern first. It was pitiable to hear the cries which
rose from the terrorstricken passengers, but as we could as yet give
them no comfort, I refrained from going below. William and Trundle,
O'Carroll and I, stood together holding on to the stump of the mainmast;
the Frenchman and his son had gone below at the commencement of the
gale. I hoped that they were still there. The ship continued
alternately grinding and bumping along, but still evidently progressing
over the reef. She must have been new and well built, or she would have
gone to pieces with the treatment she was receiving. Our anxiety was
thus prolonged, for it was impossible to say, supposing the ship should
drive over the reef, whether we should find land, and if not whether she
would float. It seemed as if each blow she received must be knocking a
hole through her planks. Oh! how we longed for daylight, at all events
to see and face the dangers which beset us! In the dark we could do
nothing but hold on for our lives and pray to be preserved from
destruction.

At length the ship was lifted by a huge wave. On she drove. It seemed
that the next time she came down on the hard rocks it must be to her
destruction. On, on she went; the waters roared and hissed around her.
Instead of the expected catastrophe, suddenly she appeared to be
floating with comparative calmness; she had been forced over the reef,
but the furious wind was still driving her before it.

"We should anchor this instant!" said O'Carroll; but neither the master
nor his mates were on deck to give the necessary orders. "Stand by to
anchor!" cried O'Carroll.

The two midshipmen, with Kelson and several of the crew, hurried to
carry out the order. Some delay occurred in consequence of the
darkness. At length the anchor was let go, but as the ship's stern
swung round it struck heavily on a rock. Again cries of terror came up
from the passengers in the cabins; I therefore, as I could be of no use
on deck, went below in the hopes of tranquillising their minds. They
clung round me as I appeared, entreating to be told the truth. I
assured them that there was no immediate danger, and that, though the
ship had again struck on the rocks, there was so much less sea inside
the reef than what she had already gone through, I hoped she might
continue to hold together. In all probability we were not far off land.
Some, on hearing this,